Tag Archives: spiritual development

Summer Stuff

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Dr. G

Summer may have arrived (even in Northeast Ohio), but our crew at Key Ministry will hardly be relaxing and taking it easy over the next few months. Continue reading →

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A Child Shall Lead Them…Update

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Dr. G

This past March, I shared a post describing a 14 year-old volunteer who had served in Breathe Respite events held at my church who approached our senior pastor with a fleshed-out proposal for the church to host a luau this summer as an outreach to 50 adults with developmental disabilities living in our community.
Continue reading →

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CDC: One in Six U.S. Children Have Developmental Disabilities

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Dr. G

If this is true of society at large, how much more true should it be of the church? While churches don’t necessarily need to create “programs” to address the spiritual growth of kids with developmental disabilities, the church certainly needs to devote time and energy to acquiring the resources to lend support to parents of kids with developmental disabilities as they function in their role as primary faith trainers of their children. Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Join me today on Blog Talk Radio

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Dr. G

I’m honored to have the opportunity to join Mike Woods from Making Room on his blog talk radio program today, Tuesday, May 17th at 10:00 AM EDT. We’ll be discussing the topic of Family-Focused Special Needs Ministry. Continue reading →

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What Helps Kids Grow Spiritually? A Look at the Data

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Dr. G

What did all of these studies have in common, and what would I want to focus on as a parent if I want to increase the likelihood that my kids are going to grow up to be mature Christians, actively engaged in a local church and using their gifts and talents in serving others?

I’d want to pray regularly with my kids, and have them see my wife and I praying regularly.
I’d want my kids to see my wife and I studying the Bible regularly, and initiate spiritual conversations with them on a regular basis about applying Biblical teachings in day to day life.
I’d want to pursue opportunities to serve other people as a family through my church.
I’d want to make sure my kids saw my wife and I going to church every week, and encourage them to participate in the ministry offered at church for kids in their age group. I’d also encourage them in forming relationships with pastors or youth leaders outside of our home who will support and reinforce the values we’re trying to foster in our kids. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Parents, Spiritual Development, Strategies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Thinking Orange”…Helping Parents of Kids With Disabilities Do A Little Bit More

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Dr. G

For our friends in children’s ministry, I’d echo the question Reggie Joiner posed at the beginning of the chapter: Do you really believe in the potential of parents? Including parents of kids who don’t think and react and behave like other kids? I do. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Parents, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Thinking Orange”: The advantages of an integrated ministry strategy

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Dr. G

When we think about ministry to the family as opposed to ministry to the child with a disability, collective intentionality is required to ensure the child’s disability doesn’t serve as an impediment to the ability of other family members to participate in activities and programs central to the church’s philosophy of ministry. Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Families, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Parents, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Thinking Orange”: Libby Peterson on Partnering With Parents

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Dr. G

We are coming to believe that every time we tell parents we are here to “equip” them in the faith training of their children we reinforce their belief that they are not adequate AND we feed the cultural lie that parents should contract out each aspect of their child’s growth and development. Parents need discipleship – to fall in love again with Christ – and encouragement to share what they know and are consistently learning with their kids. The church is here to HELP. Too often churches talk about partnering with parents when the church is in fact taking the LEAD and expecting parents to get on board with their initiatives.
Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Inclusion, Key Ministry, Parents, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

And a Child Shall Lead Them

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Dr. G

While our focus at Key Ministry is to help churches serve, welcome and include families of kids with hidden disabilities with the intent that the kids and their families will greatly benefit from being in a church where they can come to know and love Jesus, there’s a huge potential for spiritual growth among kids given the opportunity to serve in such a ministry.
Continue reading →

Posted in Inclusion, Key Ministry, Resources, Spiritual Development, Stories, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Thinking Orange”…Family Values: Partnering with parents of kids with disabilities

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Dr. G

Nothing is more important than someone’s relationship with God Think of how challenging this principle is to implement on a daily basis for folks in vocational ministry. Imagine how hard this is for parents of kids with disabilities! Based upon the limited data in the research literature, parents of kids with hidden disabilities are more likely to be single parents. Their kids are likely to require far more of their time and attention. Recommended treatments are time consuming and often expensive. In addition to all of the other “idols” that distract us from God in modern life, the day to day needs of kids with hidden disabilities leave parents with less “margin” to pursue their relationship with God. Continue reading →

Posted in Families, Hidden Disabilities, Key Ministry, Parents, Spiritual Development, Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment